WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University President Mitch Daniels and other school officials on Thursday pitched their plans for a new online university to the state body who will decide whether the venture can move forward.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education had a lengthy discussion on the new university set to stem from Purdue's recent acquisition of for-profit giant Kaplan University and threw out many of the same questions and concerns that have been circulating since the deal was announced in April.

"This is our duty. It's a huge opportunity for the state, as the commission keeps reminding us," Daniels said. "We do believe this is the one way that we can reach people who individually deserve a better chance in life and who Indiana and the nation need to have that chance."

Although the tone of the meeting was largely positive and congratulatory, questions about how the deal would affect Purdue's reputation, the quality of the online university and whether it will put Purdue or the state at financial risk largely dominated the conversation.

In responding to questions about Purdue's brand and what name will be on the new university's degree, which is being referred to as "NewU" for the time being, school leaders said it will not be equivalent to a Purdue University-West Lafayette degree.

They said Purdue will soon send out a survey to faculty members system-wide to garner feedback on the NewU's branding. The university also is receiving input from Purdue and Kaplan students and alumni and hope to have an official name in August or September.

While Chris LaMothe, vice chair of the commission, called the idea bold and said it could be the model for alternative higher education in the future, he underlined his concerns about quality.

"It's great to look at how we're going to brand this and what name we're going to put on it and everything else, but the principles of how it's going to be delivered and what's going to be upper-most in the delivery of the experience no matter where that student is ... I think is going to be critical," he said.

The commission also questioned the admission requirements to enroll in the NewU. Kaplan University President Betty Vandenbosch said the new online university will maintain Kaplan's open enrollment system.

There were several inquiries about the financial aspects of the deal, specifically relating to how much money Purdue would have to dish out — potentially $600 million — if it chose not to renew its contract with Kaplan after its initial 30-year term.

Purdue officials said they would expect the relationship to be strong by that point and, if it wasn't, they'd end it before that point. Purdue has a buyout option after six years.

Daniels said Purdue isn't asking for state funding for the NewU and never expects to in the future. He added that along with having low financial risk for Purdue, it could be a significant revenue stream for the university if it takes off.

Indiana Higher Education Commissioner Teresa Lubbers said she was impressed with the presentation, and the discussion helped members get a better feel for what the university will entail.

"There was a higher level of confidence probably that people felt after the meeting today about the arrangement that has been made so far," she said.

The commission will vote on the NewU at its August meeting. It's one of three groups that need to give Purdue the green light before it can launch the online university. The Higher Learning Commission, which accredits schools throughout the north central U.S., and the U.S. Department of Education must also give the OK.